Does anybody use MP without light meter?

[Rungroj Suppagarn]

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Hi , Does anybody use MP without light meter? I consider to use MP instead of M-A because of black paint. Is there any difference in M-A tp MP ? or they just remove the electronic part ? 

 

Thanks

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[Fotoklaus]

No difference. M-A has a tin plate glued over the battery compartement. That´s it. But why won´t you use the light meter?

[250swb]

I'm sure because of fast action or experience a lot of photographers predict the aperture and speed settings they need when using the MP so don't use the meter every time they make an exposure. So there is no rule that says owning an MP means you have to use the light meter. But for those that think a built in light meter is a symbol of decadence and demonic possession they buy an M-A, or take the battery out of their MP, and condemn themselves to reading the instructions on the back of the film box. 

[Rungroj Suppagarn]

8 minutes ago, Fotoklaus said:

No difference. M-A has a tin plate glued over the battery compartement. That´s it. But why won´t you use the light meter?

I rarely use light meter even my M11 I shoot without looking small red dot in viewfinder. But when I have to use noct 1.2 for portrait , event in the sunny area or in door I will use auto iso and shutter speed for calculate the light. Bacause I dont have time for think about it. 

 

If just sunny 16 it fine for me. 

 

 I have to say that I love BP but.. M-A is BC even if they dont have any electronic inside 😬

[Rungroj Suppagarn]

11 minutes ago, 250swb said:

I'm sure because of fast action or experience a lot of photographers predict the aperture and speed settings they need when using the MP so don't use the meter every time they make an exposure. So there is no rule that says owning an MP means you have to use the light meter. But for those that think a built in light meter is a symbol of decadence and demonic possession they buy an M-A, or take the battery out of their MP, and condemn themselves to reading the instructions on the back of the film box. 

Thanks ! 

[jakontil]

13 minutes ago, 250swb said:

I'm sure because of fast action or experience a lot of photographers predict the aperture and speed settings they need when using the MP so don't use the meter every time they make an exposure. So there is no rule that says owning an MP means you have to use the light meter. But for those that think a built in light meter is a symbol of decadence and demonic possession they buy an M-A, or take the battery out of their MP, and condemn themselves to reading the instructions on the back of the film box. 

Very well inline with why i used my m2 

but for more accurate meter, especially on color films, i use my mp

[Fotoklaus]

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vor 12 Minuten schrieb 250swb:

I'm sure because of fast action or experience a lot of photographers predict the aperture and speed settings they need when using the MP so don't use the meter every time they make an exposure. So there is no rule that says owning an MP means you have to use the light meter. But for those that think a built in light meter is a symbol of decadence and demonic possession they buy an M-A, or take the battery out of their MP, and condemn themselves to reading the instructions on the back of the film box. 

Exactly. And the best of the best are buying an M-A and ask for an external meter on top. That´s sunny 16 "extended".  🙂

[250swb]

When I got my MP it was a long time before the M-A came along so I had no choice. But if buying today a light meter in an MP costs £163, the difference between in price between an M-A and an MP, which is less than a good hand held light meter, or about the same as some shoe mounted light meters! Or buy an M6 for £20 more than an MP. That is the practical choice. We are all weird enough just by using film and don't need to make life even harder 😆

[RayD28]

I have but my battery was dead and I had no spare.  Would I do so intentionally?  Likely not.  Personal preference.   

[Fotoklaus]

Perhaps dead batteries in external Meters on an M-A are also correct for "sunny 16?"

[Mr.Prime]

With the cost of film being high, bracketing is less attractive and accurate-enough metering more important. I have M3, M4 and find my iphone SE to be a good lightmeter. I set up the exposure and don’t need to change it much unless near the start or end of the day. I like not having to worry about exposure when it's time to shoot.

[FrozenInTime]

The M-A and MP or M6 are subtly different in shutter feel, the stroke length is shorter on the M-A as there is no half press for metering; I've even missed shots on the M6 when using a mixed pair. I eventually decided to sell the M6 and seek to get a second M-A.

Edited May 10, 2023 by FrozenInTime

[roelandinho]

I use both an MP and an M-A and there are other differences between them that you may or may not care about. For one, the M-A finder has nicer framelines for 35 mm and 50 mm (less cluttered). Second, the ISO dial on the M-A looks nicer and sits flush with the camera body. The MP ISO dial is a bit ugly and sticks out a bit. 

[roelandinho]

1 minute ago, FrozenInTime said:

The M-A and MP or M6 are subtly different in shutter feel, the stroke length is shorter on the M-A as there is no half press for metering; I've even missed shots on the M6 when using a mixed pair. I eventually decided to sell the M6 and seek to get a second M-A.

Good point! The meterless M camera’s have nicer shutter buttons. On the MP I have to press all the way down which is slightly annoying compared to the M-A or M2. 

[LocalHero1953]

I have been photographing film and digital for around 60 years and I still don't trust my eyes and judgement well enough to photograph without a meter, though I'm confident enough to shoot for a while in the street and adjust with the cloud movement and street shade. I have a M4, various Barnacks and large format cameras, but use them for other reasons than the absence of a meter. For those I use either a handheld meter or phone app.

[roelandinho]

12 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I have been photographing film and digital for around 60 years and I still don't trust my eyes and judgement well enough to photograph without a meter, though I'm confident enough to shoot for a while in the street and adjust with the cloud movement and street shade. I have a M4, various Barnacks and large format cameras, but use them for other reasons than the absence of a meter. For those I use either a handheld meter or phone app.

But have you seriously tried it?
 

I used to play this game sometimes with a metered M: try to set a shutter and aperture combination that is “correct” (according to the built-in meter) and afterwards check how far your guess was off. I did this many times and in many different lighting situations. Most of the time (about 80%) my error is half a stop or less. The worst I ever did is an error of 1.5 stops, but this is very rare. Now if I’m shooting Portra 400 and aim for a bit of overexposure (+1 stop or so depending on the scene) the exposures always come out fine, even when my guess was not spot on. For slide film, I still prefer to use a light meter.   

[LocalHero1953]

25 minutes ago, roelandinho said:

But have you seriously tried it?   

With a box camera around 1960 I used the guidance on the film packet. Then I used a rotary exposure calculator.  Then a Gossen Sixtino meter. When I bought a Pentax MX I thought I'd landed in heaven - my exposures were utterly reliable. Since then I've often tried to guess an exposure, which has never been consistently correct enough. Frankly I can't see the point of guesswork when I can use a meter.

[roelandinho]

2 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Frankly I can't see the point of guesswork when I can use a meter.

Fair enough. I do the guesswork because for me it’s a faster way to shoot (I have the exposure already set before I lift the camera to take a picture), I like the viewfinder to be as simple as possible with complete framelines, I like that I don’t need to think about batteries (very minor thing, I know). And I also just like the simple understated aesthetic of the M-A. And the “responsiveness” (shorter travel) of the shutter button. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[250swb]

Honestly I’ve never ever noticed the the difference in shutter button feel between my MP, M2, M4-P, or any of the M3, M6, or M7’s I’ve had. If I think about it yes there is a difference, but I guess I’ve been missing what makes a great shot, or don’t buy into the bs that it makes any difference at all. If you are going to press the shutter just do it.

[Sensorix]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb roelandinho:

the ISO dial on the M-A looks nicer and sits flush with the camera body

👍